Mark up on fabric and COM...is it profits lost?

[mike802]

In my area customers with their own fabric represent a large segment of my client base.  It is so large in fact that I had to restructure my business plan to make it work.  What I have done is come up with an hourly rate to make up for the loss of the fabric sale.  When I do make a fabric sale, you could say I have just padded my bottom line, but that would be short sighted.  To make the sale I usually have to spend one on one time with my customer, helping him, or her go through the samples, explaining the different choices, cleaning codes, durability, etc.  Then I have to take the time to call in the order, receive the order and check for correct amount and flaws. On top of that I am expected to warranty the fabric through the duration of time that the manufacture has set on the fabric, and sometimes beyond, depending on the amount of business I receive from the customer. So when a customer pays more money to me, by purchasing fabric from me, they haven't just payed more, they have purchased a higher value.

I can understand some people being hesitant about discussing pricing on a public forum.  It may be different in places other that the area I work, but in my area people do not understand the time, effort and talent required to upholster anything in a professional looking manner.  Where I live mechanics charge between 45 - 75 dollars pr hour, this is a good general guideline for other trades as well.  But when an upholster charges a similar amount it is a very hard sell.  I once has a woman call me and ask if she dropped of a wing chair that morning, if she could pick it up later that afternoon, like she was dropping it off for an oil change or something.  I think that people who read this forum will become more educated about what is involved in reupholstering and thus be at least more understanding of the prices upholsters charge.